Saints vs 49ers

Throughout the second half of the game, I kept thinking to myself, "This team has no chance at going to a Super Bowl."  Drew Brees threw a horrible interception that he had no business throwing.  Corey White's fumble after the interception was costly.  They weren't busting enough big plays.  They fumbled the punt return, and they had far too many significant injuries.  They were settling for too many field goals.  Sean Payton should have punted the ball when they went for it on fourth and 5, and failed to convert.

I was wrong.  I have never seen a team overcome so much adversity in a game, as the Saints did in this one.  This game was won on pure determination, and an absolute refusal to lose, and that is a definite reflection of Sean Payton.  That is also a mark of a true Super Bowl contender.

The most impressive thing is that this team played this way against the San Francisco 49ers.  I was so impressed with Patrick Willis, Navorro Bowman, and Ahmad Brooks.  Those guys are absolute studs.  I have never seen a defense that tackles as well as them.  Against most other teams, the Saints would have scored touchdowns, instead of settling for field goals.

I was also impressed with Donte Whitner, and former LSU star, Eric Reid.  On several occasions, Drew Brees had seemingly forever to throw in the pocket, and had nobody to throw it to, and had to settle for dumping the ball off in the flat to the running back.  That is a credit to the 49ers secondary, led by those two guys.

The overcoming of adversity was everywhere.  I thought the game was over when Drew Brees threw the interception.  Corey White's touchback after his impressive interception was costly.  And the 49ers scored a quick touchdown after the muffed punt return, by Lance Moore, after Darren Sproles' brief exit because of an apparent injury.

Jabari Greer was hurt, and that injury was costly, but Corey White played well enough.  Kenny Vaccaro's absence from the game was felt, but Rafael Bush was his normal scrappy self, and he also played well enough.  Roman Harper was back, and that was good to see.

The secondary's play was aided significantly by the ability of our defense to put pressure on the qb without blitzing.  Cam Jordan and Junior Galette are absolute studs.  Those two guys are big time players.  Akiem Hicks was incredible stuffing the run, and that was a huge factor in limiting Frank Gore.

The most impressive overcoming of adversity was done by Garrett Hartley.  He had been missing a lot of field goals lately, and I found myself saying, "If he doesn't make this, he should be cut."  He made two absolute clutch field goals that won the game for the Saints.  I doubted him, more than I doubted the rest of the team, and once again, I was wrong.  I should have known that Hartley would be his normal clutch self.

This Saints team is, no doubt, a Super Bowl contender.  I am not afraid of the upcoming game against the Seahawks that is looming.  This upcoming game is just as big for them as it is for us.  I like Drew Brees better than Russell Wilson.  I like Who Dat Nation better than the 12th Man.  I think we are louder, so the Saints are accustomed to playing in a loud environment.  Their apparently hostile environment will be nothing new for the Black and Gold.

There is a lot of adversity to overcome for these Saints in the upcoming season.  We have the Seahawks coming up in the near future.  We still have to play the Panthers twice.  And Jabari Greer's injury will hurt.   But after seeing this huge win, I like our chances.